Giro 2018 Favourites stage 15: Breakaway boys with climbing legs

The 15th stage of the Giro is a mountainous affair, but the finale might not be demanding enough for GC-guys to battle it out. So this could be an opportunity for the breakaway boys to present themselves.(Slideshow route/profile)

Escapees will certainly fancy their chances in the hope that the GC riders call a truce. The finale might not be of interest to them. Yes, the route takes in four climbs and finishes uphill, but the last climb is really nothing special and the penultimate climb is steep yet short. So the possible time gain will be marginal.

Enter the breakaway boys. Expect a tough battle to get in there. Once the flag is dropped the route rises and with around 50 kilometres done the riders arrive at the summit of the first pass, Passo della Mauria. A descent and a sheer endless false flat lead to the base of the Passo Tre Croci. By now the break will be long gone and let’s hope for the escapees the peloton has fallen way behind.

If one of the GC-guys wants to give it a go, the Passo di Sant’Antonio would be a good place to strike. The route reaches its crest with 30 kilometres to go after a 8.3 kilometres climb at 7.5%. The punchy climb to Costalissoio comes next. It’s 10.6% in the first 2.5 kilometres and flattens out in the last 1.2 kilometres. The distance between Costalissoio and the line is 16 kilometres and half of it is on descent. The final climb to Sappada is 6.5 kilometres and averaging merely 3.8%.

And the breakaway? If they come this far the group will be fragmented with only the strongest men still eyeing up the Sappada-trophy. The steepest stretch of the finale begins 4.5 kilometres before the line and goes up at 8.2% for 1 kilometre. So if you have the legs… attack!